NEEMRANA: Twenty-three-year-old Champa looked at her husband Ajay Kumar (25) through the bars of Neemrana police station lock-up, tears streaming down her eyes, as cops told her it was time for her to leave. She did her best to steal a few more moments with him, before she turned around and stoically walked out of the police station.Like Champa’s, the families of 14 Daikin workers suddenly find themselves legal cases and uncertainty after their husbands, brothers or sons were rounded up by Neemrana police on charges of rioting and attempted murder.The violence happened on Tuesday during an agitation outside the Daikin factory that, workers say, was part of the nationwide general strike. “We were both asleep when policemen reeking of liquor barged into our home. They abused and threatened us, before dragging my husband outside without bothering to produce an arrest warrant,” said Champa, who relocated to Neemrana just two months ago. She said she pleaded with cops to let her husband stay as she was unwell, but they didn’t budge even after she had fainted.Champa wondered aloud why the government fails to arrest hardened criminals, but is quick to put ordinary citizens like her husband behind bars. Many other families who had come to meet the arrested workers shared her confusion and grief. Sanjukta Pyne, originally from Odisha, looked hassled as she struggled to pacify her daughter and control her own emotions. “My husband (Sujit) was even injured in the foot, and there’s no medication made available to him. I hope he gets bail. Then we can decide on the future course of action together,” said Pyne.Asked if they knew why their husbands were agitating, most families told TOI the workers were only asking for their right to unfurl their workers’ union flag at the factory gate, and that too, after a Rajasthan high court order permitting them to do so. They added that even if the employers don’t accept that, they shouldn’t ruin their lives this way. “My husband told me their payments had been held back, women workers had been harassed and not allowed to take toilet breaks,” said Preeti, whose husband has been working with Daikin for 10 years.While most people had issues with the company’s treatment, there were some also who said they had no inkling of where Tuesday’s events could lead. “My brother has been working here for some months. Suddenly, I was informed yesterday that he has been taken into custody , so I came down here. I have no idea of what has happened before this,” said Deep Singh, who hails from Agra.The Neemrana SHO Sanjay Poonia refuted allegations that the workers were picked up around midnight on Tuesday. He said the workers were arrested after the FIR in the case was filed on Wednesday. “We have registered the FIR on the basis of evidence collected from CCTV footage, and made arrests only after the report was filed,” said Poonia.Daikin did not comment. “The matter is currently sub-judice and we don’t want to comment on it. The authorities are trying to restore law and order, and we’ll extend all support from our end,” said a spokesperson for the Japanese multinational company.

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